The Grenada gazette., 1887-01-01
TUBERCULOUS DISEASES.
The Origin of Affections Ciassed Under the
AhJye General Title.


1t is with great propricty that the at
tcntion Of physicians and sanitarians is
so constantly turned to the inyestiga-
non Of the causes and sources Of tubcr-
culous affections. We have the sad
and significant fact that the greatest
cause of prolonged sickness and death
is still consumption in some of its varied
forms. While we are startled by the
prevalence of some sudden epidemic.
or are impressed by the long catalogue
of the communicable diseases of child
ren, the fact remains that less progress
has been made in the prevention of con-
sumption and its causes than in any
other direction. This arises from scv-
eral causes. Diseases of the lungs, or
scrofllla, so called, in all its protean
forms. is often the condensed record Of
the errors or unavoidable exposures Of
ancestors. The cntailmcnt is dormant
until some condition in early manhood
or womanhood favors its development.
Then it seems as if no record Of
former health and no remedial
measures suffice to check the
disease. In other eases IN attack Of
measles, or a cold, or some general
condition of ill-health, gives oppor-
tunity for the disease. But it is never
thclcSs to be recognized that most dill
gent inquiry and investigation is being
made, and that some progress has re-
suited. For instance. there is not the
least doubt as to the relations Of out-of-
door and indoor life to the disease.
The person who has lost mother or
father from consumption should always
seek some form of open air service, un-
less the careful judgment of the physi-
clan is able to show that in the par
ticular case the hcredity is not likely to
be maintained. Many a one who might
thus secure vigorous and useful life is
lost or disabled by Il mistake here.
Then again, we have some very definite
facts as to the effects Of different orcll-
pations. Many of the indoor in
dustries are to be avoided. because of
the closcness and dust incident to them.
In fact, the teachings of pathology
and experience correspond in the te>ti-
mony that thousands Of cases of con-
sumption are the record of exposure to
impure air. Young life, in its buoyancy
and feeling of wcllncss, does not often
enough take into consideration the
choice of Il locality in reference to
these health considerations. 1t is easy
to make the choice at the beginning
and to proceed on the basis that good
health is itself a part of our capital.
Next to this we need to consider how
much good food has to do with the
building up of health, and with resist
ancc of diseases. We have come to
know far more as to the specific values
of different foods. Much. indeed, of
treatment is now based on the knowl-
edge of the sustaining or fattening
power of various foods. The modes
that are adopted in effective training,
and the results obtained testify to the
reality of this knowledge. While the
course for general health is somewhat
different. it is not less definite. 1t is
one of the results Of this discrimination
that we are now able to command foods
both natural and artificial of ascertaincd
values for specific purposes.
Another relation of the disease is now
dcsevedly attracting much attention.
It is now too probable that 1t is under
some circumstances communicable
disease. This view was long ago sus-
peetcd: but the evidences of the study
of micro-organisms greatly fortify this
view. Many physicians can point to
cases where a wife has apparently
fallen victim to her devoted care of u
sick husband or child. Close rooms or
constant inhalation of the breath of the
sick person. or of air having in it the
fine particles of dried sputn. are rec
ognzcd as especially hazardous. 1t is
fortunate that this communicability
can be limited. 1t is even probable
that our knowledge of it will enable us
to limit the disease. Much more care
than formerly is being exercised.
Another source of peril is in the in
crease of tuberculous disease among
cattle. and especially among milch
COWS. The possible relation of these
pulmonary diseases in men and cattle
is nearly certain. That in some
cases the milk from tubcrculous cows
has caused consumption in adults and
marasmus in children seems probable.
Some contend that this is only the case
where there has been tuburcular de-
post in the uddcr of the cow. All of
this series of facts goes to show how
various may be our exposures to the
,o,J, rs <rkorolo onJ how ionortnr